HC Deb 28 January 1942 vol 377 cc696-7
15. Mr. Cary

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state briefly the nature of the instructions issued by the Colonial Secretary to Colonial officials abroad as to their degree of legal responsibility and powers if hostilities suddenly overtook their particular territory?

Mr. George Hall

Instructions vary according to the circumstances, and it would not be in the public interest to go into details regarding them. Generally speaking, the Civil Government has many duties to perform under the wide powers conferred upon it by war-time legislation. Its primary role in the circumstances contemplated in the Question must necessarily be to render all possible assistance to the military authorities.